2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 88 schools in the Southwest Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named New Mexico Junior College the best value school in the Southwest Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. New Mexico Junior College is located in Hobbs, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,285 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at New Mexico Junior College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clovis Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Clovis Community College is located in Clovis, New Mexico and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $2,984 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,448 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Clovis Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Central Arizona College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the Southwest Region . Pinal County Community College is a public institution located in Coolidge, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pinal County Community College are $5,160 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,315 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pinal County Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pinal County Community College also made our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list, coming in at #2.
Out of the 88 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Panola College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Panola College is a small public school located in Carthage, Texas that handed out 43 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Panola College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year.
Panola College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Panola College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The excellent associate degree programs at Amarillo College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the Southwest Region . Amarillo College is located in Amarillo, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 204 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,641 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Amarillo College. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Amarillo College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
College of the Mainland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Texas City, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at COM are $3,873 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,500 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at COM. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South Plains College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. South Plains College is a public institution located in Levelland, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 83 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,112 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
South Plains College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Alvin Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This small public school is located in Alvin, Texas, and it awarded 61 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Alvin are $4,010 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,951 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Alvin does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. NMSU Carlsbad is a small public school situated in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It awarded 16 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
NMSU Carlsbad undergraduate students pay an average of $4,008 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,036 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NMSU Carlsbad does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Tyler, Texas that handed out 206 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,044 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Tyler Junior College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Clarendon College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Clarendon, Texas, the small public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Clarendon College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,176 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,226 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Clarendon College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.
Lee College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Lee College is located in Baytown, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Lee College are $4,302 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,284 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Lee College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Wharton County Junior College is a medium-sized public school located in Wharton, Texas that handed out 49 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Wharton County Junior College are $4,872 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,328 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Wharton County Junior College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. San Jacinto College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 225 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
San Jacinto College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,040 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,960 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that San Jacinto College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
San Jacinto College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. El Centro College is a large public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 203 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at El Centro College. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
El Centro College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Collin County Community College District came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in McKinney, Texas, the large public school awarded 128 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Collin County Community College District are $5,104 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,379 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Collin County Community College District. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northeast Texas Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. NTCC is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NTCC are $6,449 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,637 in student loans.
NTCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
NTCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Lone Star College System did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school awarded 380 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Harris Montgomery are $6,168 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,481 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
North Harris Montgomery does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Harris Montgomery excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
With a ranking of #19, Houston Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Houston, Texas, the large public school handed out 154 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Houston Community College are $5,460 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,597 in student loans.
Houston Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
In addition to its great value ranking, Houston Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Victoria College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Victoria College is a small public school situated in Victoria, Texas. It awarded 68 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Victoria College are $4,872 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,992 in student loans.
Victoria College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #21, Del Mar College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. This fairly large public school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 250 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
DMC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,930 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,513 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since DMC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 85% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, DMC also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Gallup, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNM Gallup are $4,708 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,819 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that UNM Gallup does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Galveston College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Galveston College is a small public school situated in Galveston, Texas. It awarded 55 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Galveston College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,200 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,605 in student loans.
Galveston College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 84% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Odessa College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Odessa College is located in Odessa, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Odessa College are $4,398 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,199 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Odessa College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 68% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of New Mexico - Taos Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. UNM Taos is a small public school situated in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. It awarded 13 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNM Taos are $4,752 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,819 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UNM Taos does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
Narrow Schools by State
View Best Value Associate Degree Nursing Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
More Southwest Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
NursingDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© NursingDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.